My Florida trip - final recap (really)

[AR]

Ever drive thousands of miles to see Journey? I have and it was worth it.

Travelers: AR, dcvader, duke22

(Certain details will be left out to protect the innocent.......)

Travel Log:

Wednesday:

- duke22 drives down from PA to pick me up and we ride to Northern Virginia to spend the evening at dcvader's place. We do this after work, so duke and I do not even arrive in Northern VA until around 10:30 pm. Greetings and a couple of cold beers. Actually we end up until the wee hours shooting the b.s. and killing off vader's beer. Probably not the thing to do the night before a long trip, but it sure was fun.

Estimated mileage: About 90 from my place to vader's

Thursday:

-Waited for the DC rush hour to end before departing. The first show is in Clearwater, FL on Friday so we have plenty of time. We are not even sure how far we will get and it is discussed that we might stop short and spend the night in Georgia or something. Lunch at Ruby Tuesday's in South Carolina after being lost in a jerkwater town known as Latta, SC. Well not really lost, as duke's car has on board vehicle navigation. Latta might as well be Mayberry RFD.

With 3 of us driving we begin to think late in the afternoon that we have a shot at making it all the way to Clearwater. About 2 hours away, I start not feeling right. We make it to Clearwater, but it is obvious that the Ruby Tuesday's lunch has not agreed with me. We reach the Hampton Inn, and let's just say I had to "run" to the rest room, and spent the better part of the night in and out. I wasn't throwing up either.

Clearwater seems to shut down very early. We could not find anything open after midnight to get anything to eat. We keep avoiding a Perkins restaurant hoping we'll find a place that has beer. Finally we give up and go into the family restaurant that was the only thing open. To our surprise - this Perkins has a liquor license - Who would have known?

Estimated mileage: 928 miles not including our futile effort to find an open restaurant.

[AR]

Friday:

After a rough night, things settle down and I feel well enough to party. Our rooms at the Hampton Inn are completely stocked with beer. With a loud rumble, who arrives but Rockndeano. Hurricane Deano's impact was prepared for, but as usual you really can't prepare for Dean. Other notables such as bufort9/Granny and her husband, Sunshine Twilight and others had been there since the night before. It was the only quiet night we had, and we knew that going in. Who the hell wanted quiet anyway?

The party starts around noon, but it's not full blast. Only a few beers and not everyone was starting until later. Some separate out to do athletic things such as a basketball game, a few took a trip to Tampa, I did both. Well I watched the game but did not play. Next time I'll bring my hightops. An enjoyable day in the sun, especially for those of us from the northeast. As the basketball game wound down, vader, Granny's husband Norm and I decide to chance a violation and have a few beers in public places.

As showtime gets a little closer we regroup and search for a restaurant to eat. Of course we get lost and can't find our 1st choice. Fortunately an Applebee's is located by Ruth Eckard Hall where the show was held. Finally a decent meal (as decent as Applebees can be). Plenty of time to have a few drinks and it's walking distance to the show!!!!

Decent tailgate lot for such a nice venue. Ruth Eckerd Hall holds everything from symphonies to comedians. Rock concerts do not seem to be the norm, but the staff does a fine job and there are no hassles at the tailgate. I get recognized a few times by people I've never met that just know me from here and my own site. Everyone I met couldn't have been more pleasant. So much for the theory that I'm a total asshole. Partial maybe.....

Next up - Show #1

[AR]

Clearwater Show:

The setlist has been posted elsewhere. I thought the band was tight and Jeff sounded great. It got progressively better each show, but they seemed spot on to me even on this first night. Of course the setlist has been posted before, but I will throw it in for reference here anyway:

Message of Love
Neal Solo
Rubicon
Stone in Love
Ask the Lonely
Wheel in the Sky
Every Generation
Edge of the blade
Ill be Alright Without U
Chain Reaction
Lights
Still They Ride
Open Arms
Lovin Touchin Squeezin
Escape
Dead or Alive
Faithfully
Dont Stop Believin
Any Way you want it
Separate Ways

A couple of people complained about no major changes. I theorized that maybe on the first night, they might want just get back in the swing of things with what works best and comes second nature with minimun rehearsal. Anyway that was my guess, either way the show went over great with the crowd (older crowd there in Clearwater). I really enjoyed it as usual. Jeff tore it up on Rubicon. That's not really a song I particularly care for, but I may be rethinking my opinion of it. Message of Love is a great opening song. Wouldn't mind that staying around for awhile. Edge of the Blade is my favorite these days live. I never paid much attention to it before. Soto gives it a hard rock edge and for me this is almost his first JRNY song - really makes it his own. It's about time Journey got more of an "edge" anyway so to speak. Wouldn't mind seeing this re-recorded for the next JRNY album as a bonus track or something.

Notes:
The place was virtually full, but maybe 2 rows in the back were not sold. Looked like some sort of screw up on someone's part. It was only like that in one section. Watched a lot of the show with RocknDeano. Great insight at a couple of points on things I would have never thought of just watching it myself. Dude picks up on every little thing during the set.

Next up - Post show

[AR]

Clearwater - post show:

The tailgaiting festivities continued on the parking lot for a bit. We were waiting as a couple of people in this large group were attending a meet and greet. After everyone returned we shuttled back to the Hampton Inn for our final night in Clearwater. Beer and Grey Goose were flowing and a few of us ventured over to the adult establishment that was - GASP/Shock/Horror - right next door to our hotel!!!!!!!

What happened in that titty bar, stays there.

At closing, we ventured back to the hotel. The partying went into the morning until hotel management asked that the party either be moved to the lobby or stopped altogether. I think had we known we would have taken advantage of that lobby area more.

In the interest of full disclosure, I left the strip bar early and turned in for the night. I started earlier and hit it harder than most. When it's time for bed, it's just time for bed. Good thing I can function on auto-pilot. Also, before anyone goes there, we were using sober drivers on this trip.

Saturday and Pompano Beach would be next. Is this stuff of interest or too much info? Just let me know.

[Rick]

Hell yes, post it all. I'm living this trip vicariously through you guys. I appreciate you taking the time to do this.

[ohsherrie]

Thank you so much for the recap AR. I almost felt as if I was there. Well, sort of felt like I was there. Honestly I'm jealous as hell that I wasn't there.

I'm sincerely glad all there had a great time though.

[Clasicrockldy]

Good stories, Ed ! You're telling it so great that I can just sit back and imagine everything !

[AR]

I'll get into Saturday night, the offday on Sunday, the final show at House of Blues and the trip home shortly. Have some things to attend to. I'm kind of glad to be writing it down while it's still fresh in my mind.\

Once I'm done, I'm going to ask my travel buds dcvader and duke22 to weigh in as well.

[Clasicrockldy]

I would like to hear the radiator story !

[AR]

Before we continue some pics:
(all courtesy of my man duke22!!!)

[Ms_M]

Hell yes, post it all. I'm living this trip vicariously through you guys. I appreciate you taking the time to do this.

Exactly! For those of us unable to go - this is almost as good as it gets. Thanks for sharing your stories, Ed. BTW, who are all the folks in the pics? I recognize some, but not others.

[ohsherrie]

Great pics. Who's the big, friendly looking guy in the middle in that top pic? He almost looks like a proud papa.

[AR]

Hell yes, post it all. I'm living this trip vicariously through you guys. I appreciate you taking the time to do this.

Exactly! For those of us unable to go - this is almost as good as it gets. Thanks for sharing your stories, Ed. BTW, who are all the folks in the pics? I recognize some, but not others.

All Melodicrock/Annex members having a good time. We picked up a few along the way and recruited them.

Anyone in the pics that wants to identify themselves is welcome to.

I'll continue on with the Saturday story forward tomorrow. Have to go spend some time with my wife. (Drinking beer, singing along to CD's and whatever comes next)

[Melissa]

Hell yes, post it all. I'm living this trip vicariously through you guys. I appreciate you taking the time to do this.

Exactly! For those of us unable to go - this is almost as good as it gets. Thanks for sharing your stories, Ed. BTW, who are all the folks in the pics? I recognize some, but not others.

All Melodicrock/Annex members having a good time. We picked up a few along the way and recruited them.

Anyone in the pics that wants to identify themselves is welcome to.

I'll continue on with the Saturday story forward tomorrow. Have to go spend some time with my wife. (Drinking beer, singing along to CD's and whatever comes next)

Remember you said you guys were going to record High Enough soon! lol

[Rockindeano]

Watched a lot of the show with RocknDeano. Great insight at a couple of points on things I would have never thought of just watching it myself. Dude picks up on every little thing during the set.

Thanks. While draining the main vein, I heard on the speakers in the can, some hiccups from that "fill in lead singer" He had a couple, but I give him an A for overall performance. Not his best, but still great. The best show he has ever had was in Mansfield, MA (Boston)....Bar none.

[lights1961]

good stories ed. Man this will be one long stretch with out Journey for me in 07 to whenver in 08.

Rick

[(Crazy)Dulce Lady]

yes, I have driven thousands of miles, in fact, to attend a Journey concert. Corpus Christi, Texas to Denver, Colorado (Red Rocks-2006). by myself. ImADork. then I flew to Salt Lake City and back, then drove back to Corpus, by myself. But I have a company car so no mileage incurred on my personal vehicle.

These are stories are great. I feel like I was there. oh, I was there. ha! I had a blast with you guys. I have pics too. I'll get to it after I catch up my paperwork from almost a week off in Florida!

signed,

your recruit

thanks for the pizza, travis and donna. thanks for the evening, carol and norm. thanks for looking for McD's with me Angela and Krista. thanks for the friendship, Lynn and Melissa. thanks Pam for catching me on Opened the Door. thanks for looking out for me Dean and shielding my eyes and ears from the 'colorful' moments. thanks Stu for the 'jokes'. Thanks ed, joe and dave for making me feel welcome. and thanks to Gayle for traveling with me and sharing this adventure--you rock, my sistah, my chica, my friend. I have traveled since '86 by myself to concerts. I am so glad I reached out. and that you all reached back.

resume road report.........sorry for the interruption.

[yulog]

Its amazing to me what some of you guys and girls have done to go see this band, if you ever think your a big fan all you have to do is come to a place like MR and your fandom(so to speak) will be paled in comparison. I feel like a fairweather fan compared to most here.

[donnaplease]

Its amazing to me what some of you guys and girls have done to go see this band, if you ever think your a big fan all you have to do is come to a place like MR and your fandom(so to speak) will be paled in comparison. I feel like a fairweather fan compared to most here.

So...join us in May. It's shaping up to be quite an event!!!!

[dcvader]

AR and I even ran into SA at the show.

[junky]

AR and I even ran into SA at the show.

That dude is way better looking than SA.

[dcvader]

AR and I even ran into SA at the show.

That dude is way better looking than SA.

[donnaplease]

AR and I even ran into SA at the show.

That dude is way better looking than SA.

But, he was quite a wiggler, dontcha think????

[junky]

AR and I even ran into SA at the show.

That dude is way better looking than SA.

But, he was quite a wiggler, dontcha think????

You don't know the half of it.

He's the original

[ohsherrie]

AR and I even ran into SA at the show.

That dude is way better looking than SA.

Oh yeah, definitely!

[dcvader]

AR and I even ran into SA at the show.

That dude is way better looking than SA.

Here's a pic of the wiggler.

[donnaplease]

Here's a pic of the wiggler.

EWWWWW!!!!!!!!

You look mighty thrilled there, Vader!!!

[Lady Luck]

thanks for looking for McD's with me Angela and Krista.

Looking for a McD's at 3 am was quite an adventure.

[Lady Luck]

AR and I even ran into SA at the show.

That dude is way better looking than SA.

But, he was quite a wiggler, dontcha think????

He was. He said he had the red leather pants too.

[ohsherrie]

EWWWWW!!!!!!!!

Me toooooooeeeeeeeewwwwwwww, . That other guy should be insulted by the comparison.